Transportation and installation assist device for at least one pre-cast concrete tilt panel

ABSTRACT

A transportation and installation assist device ( 16 ) for at least one precast concrete tilt panel. The panel(s) ( 18 ) are generally rectangular and have a first shorter end ( 44 ) with at least one lifting anchor therein, a second opposed shorter end ( 48 ) and a longitudinal axis ( 50 ) therebetween. The device ( 16 ) includes at least one frame ( 20 ) adapted to releasably engage an associated one of the panel(s) ( 18 ) substantially adjacent the second end ( 48 ) and support the panel ( 18 ) in a loading/transport orientation with the face of the associated panel ( 18 ) substantially vertical and the axis(es) ( 50 ) substantially horizontal. The frame ( 20 ) is also adapted for pivotal mounting to a table bed ( 14 ) of a truck ( 10 ) or trailer ( 12 ). The frame ( 20 ) and associated panel ( 18 ) pivot together when the first panel end ( 44 ) is lifted above the second panel end ( 48 ) until the associated panel ( 18 ) is in a releasing orientation with the face of the panel ( 18 ) substantially vertical and the axis ( 50 ) substantially vertical. Further lifting of the first panel end ( 44 ) releases the panel ( 18 ) from the frame ( 20 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a transportation and installationassist device for at least one pre-cast concrete tilt panel and has beenprimarily developed for use in conveying large pre-cast concrete tiltpanels from a factory manufacturing site to an installation site.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Buildings constructed from concrete panels fall broadly into twocategories, namely those constructed using tilt-up concrete panels andthose using pre-cast concrete panels.

Tilt-up concrete panels are cast on site, usually on the concrete slabwhich will eventually form the floor of the finished building. Thepanels are formed individually, often being stacked cast when thedimensions of individual panels permit. The organization of this processrequires much planning as the cast must reflect the appropriate liftingorder of the panels. The casting of panels on site is a labor-intensiveendeavor and is subject to usual on-site problems. Once cured, thepanels are lifted into place by use of a crane which is attached tolifting anchors cast into the panels. The panels are lifted from theirhorizontal as cast position to their final vertical position and duringthis process the stresses induced in the panel are often those governingthe extent of reinforcement required in the panel.

Pre-cast concrete panels, by comparison, eliminate many of these on-siteproblems by casting individual panels in a factory environment. Oncecured, the panels are rotated on a casting bed through 90° from thehorizontal position so the panel is lying along its major axis. Anoverhead crane then lifts the panel from its casting bed, using liftinganchors cast into the panel, and places the panel onto a flat-bed truckfor transport to site. On site, a crane is used to lift the panel intoposition as a part of a wall of a building. The size of pre-cast panelsis restricted by transport requirements and, as such, they are usually alot smaller than tilt-up panels cast on site and are generally not largeenough to support a roof structure. From the above it can be seen thatlarger panels are normally cast on site as they are too large and heavyto transport, while smaller panels are pre-cast and then transported tosite and erected. It would be economically advantageous to be able toprecast larger panels. However, to lift a large panel from a transporttruck, the panel has to be spun from its transporting position (lying onone long side) to its installation position (standing vertical). Oneknown way of achieving this is to use a crane with a complicatedspinning rig. Another method is to use two cranes. Both methods are timeconsuming, expensive and can be dangerous to operators.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantiallyameliorate the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides atransportation and; installation assist device for at least one precastconcrete tilt panel,

said panel(s) being generally rectangular and having a first shorter endwith at least one lifting anchor therein, a second opposed shorter endand a longitudinal axis therebetween,

said device including at least one frame adapted to releasably engage anassociated one of said panel(s) substantially adjacent said second endand support said panel in a loading/transport orientation with the faceof said associated panel substantially vertical and said axissubstantially horizontal, said frame being adapted for pivotal mountingto a table bed of a truck or trailer,

wherein said frame(s) and said associated panel(s) pivot together whenthe first panel end is lifted above the second panel end until saidassociated panel is in a releasing orientation with the face of saidpanel substantially vertical and said axis substantially verticalwhereafter further lifting of said first panel end releases said panelfrom said frame.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a truck or trailertable bed adapted for transportation and installation assisting of atleast one concrete panel,

said panel(s) being generally rectangular and having a first shorter endwith at least one lifting anchor therein, a second opposed shorter endand a longitudinal axis therebetween,

said table bed including at least one frame adapted to releasably engagean associated one of said panel(s) substantially adjacent said secondend and support said panel in an orientation with the face of saidassociated panel substantially vertical and said axis substantiallyhorizontal, said frame being pivotally mounted to said table bed,

wherein said frame(s) and said associated panel(s) pivot together whenthe first panel end is lifted above the second panel end until saidassociated panel is in an orientation with the face of said panelsubstantially vertical and said axis substantially vertical whereafterfurther lifting of said first panel end releases said panel from saidframe.

The device preferably further includes a plurality of said frames.

The frame(s) preferably include first and second right angled arms eachadapted to respectively engage a portion of the second end and anadjacent longer end, wherein said frame(s) is/are pivotally mounted tothe table bed adjacent the join of the pair of arms.

The first and second arms are desirably generally I-shaped incross-section.

The device preferably further includes at least one support bracketadapted for mounting to the table bed in a position able to engage thefirst end of an associated panel in the loading/transport orientation.

The frame(s) desirably pivot about a shaft adapted for mounting to thetable bed.

In one form, the frame(s) is/are directly pivotally mounted to the tablebed and the bracket(s) is/are directly mounted to the table bed.

In another form, the frame(s) is/are directly pivotally mounted to afirst base structure, the first base structure being fixed to therearward end of the table bed and the bracket(s) is/are directly mountedto a second base structure, the second base structure being fixed to thefrontward end of the table bed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described,by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a prime-mover and trailer with anembodiment of a transportation and installation assist device accordingto the invention mounted thereto;

FIG. 2 is a rear end view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front upper perspective view of the device shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front lower perspective view of the device shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a rear upper perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front upper perspective view of the frame of thedevice shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a rear upper enlarged detailed view of the bracket of thedevice shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, firstly FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a primemover 10 attached to a trailer 12 with a table bed 14. An embodiment ofa transportation and installation assist device, indicated generally bythe reference numeral 16, is mounted to the table bed 14. The device 16is used to assist in the transportation and installation of up to sevenpre-cast concrete panels 18, of which four are shown in the drawings,namely 18 a to 18 d.

The device 16 has seven frames 20 a to 20 g which are each pivotallymounted to a rearward base platform 21 which is itself fixed to thetrailer bed 14. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the frames 20a to 20 g are directly pivotally mounted to the trailer bed 14. Eachframe 20 a to 20 g is comprised of first 22 a and second 22 b rightangled arms formed from welded steel columns, preferably thosedesignated 200UC. A cross brace 24, preferably made from an angled steelsection, is welded between the distal ends of the arms 22 a, 22 b.

As best seen in FIG. 6, the arms 22 a, 22 b are welded to a cylindricalportion 26 which pivots about a shaft 28. The shaft 28 is located bybearing blocks 30 attached to the rearward base structure 21. The distalends of each of the arms 22 a, 22 b also include welded extension pieces32 formed from steel plate.

An optional hinged support 34 is pivotally connected at each end betweenthe underside of each of the frames 20 and the end of the supportstructure 22 remote the shaft 28. A two-way pneumatic cylinder 36 ispivotally connected between each of the supports 34 and the platform 22.

The device 16 also includes a forward base support 38 to which aremounted seven support brackets 40 a to 40 g, also formed from 200UC.Each of the brackets 40 a to 40 g is respectively longitudinally alignedwith each of the frames 20 a to 20 g. The rearward ends of the brackets40 a to 40 g also include welded extension pieces 42 similar to thepieces 32 provided on the frame arms 22 a, 22 b. In an alternativeembodiment (not shown), the brackets 40 a to 40 g are directly mountedto the trailer bed 14.

The panels 18 c to 18 d are generally rectangular and have a firstshorter end 44 with a pair of lifting anchors 46 cast therein (see FIG.3). A second shorter end 48 opposes the first shorter end 44 and alongitudinal axis 50 extends therebetween.

The frames 20 are able to pivot about the shaft 28 between aloading/transport orientation in which the first arm 22 a of the frameis substantially horizontal and the second arm 22 b of the frame issubstantially vertical (see frames 20 c to g in FIG. 2) and a releasingorientation in which the first arm 22 a of the frame is substantiallyvertical and the second arm 22 b of the frame is substantiallyhorizontal (see frame 20 a of FIG. 2).

The operation of the device 16 will now be described. Before loading theconcrete panels 18 into the device 16, the frames 20 are all initiallyplaced in the loading/transport orientation. A workshop crane is thenused to lower the panels 18 into the frames/brackets 20/40 in theloading/transport orientation with the faces of the panels 18 beingsubstantially vertical and the axes 50 being substantially horizontal(see panels 18 c and 18 d). Load straps are then placed around thepanels 18 to assist in retaining them adjacent the frames/brackets 20/40in this orientation during transportation. The extension pieces 32/42also assist in locating and retaining the panels 18 adjacent theframes/brackets 20/40, in particular during any flexure of the trailerbed 14. Once at site, the lifting anchors 46 are attached to a crane(not shown) by a chain 52 (see FIG. 3) and the crane is used to raisethe first end 44 of one of the concrete panels 18 above its second end48. This causes the panel 18 to tilt and pivot about the shaft 28 (seepanel 18 b of FIG. 3) until the panel 18 is pivoted to a releasingorientation in which the axis 50 is substantially vertical (see panel 18a of FIG. 3). Further lifting of the panel 18 causes it to release fromthe frame 20 whereafter it can be maneuvered by the crane into thedesired construction position.

If the optional hinged support 34 is used, then the cylinder 36 can beenergized to drive the frames 20 between the two orientations describedabove before or after loading or releasing. Further, venting the air inthe cylinder 36 through a suitable restriction during tilting of thepanel 18 has a desirable dampening/shock absorbing effect on the panelmovement.

The invention provides a relatively quick, safe and cost effectivedevice that allows large pre-cast tilt panels to be transported and thenmaneuvered for installation on a building site. The invention alsoobviates the expense of maintaining site costs during construction oftilt-up panels. The invention also allows use of precast panels largeenough to support a roof structure.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specificexamples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that theinvention may be embodied in many other forms. For example, the frames20, brackets 40 and extension pieces 32/42 can be modified to provide aclamping effect to suit panels 18 of varying thicknesses. Also, a hingedsupport leg can be added to the distal end of the arm 22 b which swingsinto contact with the ground when the frame 20 is in the releasingorientation to present excessive rotation of the frame 20.

1. Apparatus for transporting and assisting in the tilt-up erection of agenerally rectangular, pre-cast concrete panel for a building, the panelhaving opposing faces, surrounded by spaced-apart, relatively long sidesand spaced-apart, relatively short first and second ends adjoining thesides and a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the sides, theapparatus comprising a base adapted to be mounted to a vehicle, a frameformed to releasably engage and support the panel adjacent the first endso that the faces are substantially upright, the longitudinal axis issubstantially horizontal, and the panel can be removed from the frame bymoving it in a direction substantially parallel to the faces, and aconnection between the base and the frame permitting tilting movementsof the frame relative to the base about a tilt axis that issubstantially perpendicular to the faces of the panel so that the secondend of the panel can be raised relative to the first end and the baseinto an upright installation orientation in which the faces and thelongitudinal axis are substantially vertical while the panel remainssupported by the frame.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including aplurality of frames.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the frameincludes first and second right-angled arms adapted to respectivelyengage a portion of the second end and a portion of one of the longsides adjacent the second end, and including a pivot connection betweenthe frame and the base proximate the right-angled arms.
 4. Apparatusaccording to claim 3 wherein the first and second arms have a generallyI-shaped cross-section.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including asupport bracket adapted to be mounted to the vehicle for engaging thefirst end of the panel when the longitudinal axis of the panel issubstantially horizontal.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein thesupport bracket is adapted to be mounted directly to the vehicle. 7.Apparatus according to claim 5 including a base structure adapted to befixed to a forward portion of the vehicle, and wherein the supportbracket is carried by the base structure.
 8. Apparatus according toclaim 1 including a pivot shaft for the tilting movements of the framerelative to the base.
 9. Apparatus for transporting building panels toand for tilt-up erecting the panels at a building site comprising atransport vehicle having a table bed, a frame carried by the table bedfor receiving at least one tilt-up concrete panel having spaced-apartopposing faces, spaced-apart sides, spaced-apart first and second ends,and a longitudinal axis parallel to the sides, the frame being formed towithdrawably support the at least one panel adjacent the first end sothat the faces are substantially upright and the axis is substantiallyhorizontal, and a pivot connection between the frame and the bedpermitting pivotal movements of the frame, and therewith of the panelcarried by the frame, about a substantially horizontal axis that issubstantially perpendicular to the faces of the panel so that, uponlifting the second end of the panel relative to the bed, the frame andtherewith the panel carried by the frame pivotally move about the pivotaxis towards a position in which the longitudinal axis of the panel andthe faces are substantially vertical while the panel remains releasablysupported by the frame adjacent the first end.
 10. Apparatus accordingto claim 9 including a plurality of frames arranged side-by-side on thetable bed.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the frame includesfirst and second right-angled arms for respectively engaging a portionof the second end and a portion of one of the long sides adjacent thesecond end, and wherein the pivot connection is proximate ends of thefirst and second arms.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein thefirst and second arms have a generally I-shaped cross-section. 13.Apparatus according to claim 12 including a support bracket slidablymounted to the table bed in a position for engaging the first end of thepanel when the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal. 14.Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the brackets are directlymounted to the table bed.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein thepivot connection includes a shaft mounted on the table bed. 16.Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the pivot connection is directlymounted to the table bed.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 9 including abase fixed to a rearward end of the table bed, and wherein the pivotconnection is mounted on the base.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 17including a base fixed to a front portion of the table bed, and whereinthe brackets are mounted to the base.
 19. Apparatus according to claim 9wherein the pivot connection is located proximate a rearward end of thetable bed.
 20. A method for transporting at least one substantially flattilt-up concrete building panel to a building site and for assisting inthe erection of the panel at the building site comprising providing aconcrete panel having spaced-apart, relatively long sides, spaced-apartrelatively short first and second ends, and spaced-apart faces boundedby the sides and ends of the panel, the panel including a lifting anchorproximate the second side, during transporting the panel supporting oneof the edges in a substantially horizontal orientation adjacent thefirst end with a frame on a load carrying surface of the vehicle so thatthe faces are substantially vertical, at the site raising the second endof the panel with the lifting anchor relative to the first end whilecontinuing to support the side adjacent the first end with the frameuntil the long sides of the panel approach the vertical, and thereafterlifting the panel in a substantially vertical direction from the frame.21. A method according to claim 20 wherein raising the second endcomprises pivoting the frame and therewith the panel about asubstantially horizontal axis proximate the first end.